Texas Executes Its Oldest Inmate After Over 30 Years on Death Row

Texas does not hold the record for oldest inmate to be put to death, but the execution of Carl Wayne Buntion comes close.

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The 78-year-old inmate was executed Thursday at the state penitentiary in Huntsville for killing Houston police officer James Irby during a traffic stop nearly 32 years ago.

Buntion was also the first inmate to be executed in Texas in 2022. There has only been three executions in the last two years, due in part to the coronavirus pandemic and other legal delays. Buntion became the oldest person Texas has put to death since the Supreme Court lifted its ban on capital punishment in 1976, according to KWTX. The U.S. Supreme Court denied a final plea to pause the execution on Thursday afternoon.

Carl Wayne Buntion's Last Words

Buntion expressed remorse, and spoke at length apologizing for his crime. He was joined by his spiritual adviser and began praying Psalm 23 as the drugs began to take effect. He was pronounced dead at 6:39 p.m.

James Irby's Widow

Maura Irby, the widow of slain officer James Irby, watched Buntion's execution and said she felt joy and relief, according to KHOU.

Oldest Person Executed

The oldest inmate to be executed in the United States was Walter Moody Jr., who was 83 years old when he was put to death in Alabama in 2018 after spending over 20 years on death row.

Moody was convicted of mailing a bomb in 1989 that killed U.S. Circuit Court Judge Robert Vance and another that killed Georgia civil rights attorney Robert Robinson.

Only 6 Women Are On Death Row In Texas. Here's A Look At Their Crimes.

**This story has been updated to reflect the current status of Melissa Lucio, who is scheduled to be executed on April 27th, 2022.**

**UPDATE 4/25/22: An appeals court has delayed the Texas execution of Melissa Lucio so a lower court can review her case.

Texas has the most active death chamber nationwide.

Currently, four inmates are scheduled for execution in 2022, including Melissa Lucio. She is the only woman on the current schedule.

The six women on death row in Gatesville, Texas have been incarcerated for an average of almost two decades. Continue scrolling to see their stories.

These Men Are Among The Most Wanted Sex Offenders In Texas

Let's take a look at the most wanted sex offenders in the state of Texas. They are to be considered armed and dangerous. Do not attempt to apprehend them yourself. If you spot them, call local authorities.

The Most Dangerous City in Texas for 2022 May Surprise You

According to FBI statistics, Texas had 438 violent crimes and 2,562 property crimes per 100,000 residents as of this year. For every 100,000 residents, there are 224 police officers statewide.

Crime rates are expressed as the number of incidents per 100,000 people.

Here are the ten most dangerous cities in Texas for 2022, according to World Population Review.